Hayavadana - Girish Karnad

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Aria

Hayavadana by Girish Karnad is introduced through its theatrical and literary context, contrasting earlier Kannada playwriting with a newer, more stage-connected drama culture. The play’s plot derives from Kathasaritsagara and is reframed through Thomas Mann’s retelling, creating a mock-heroic exploration of the relationship between body and soul. It centers on Devadatta and Kapila’s shifting identities after a comic-yet-profound head transposition, showing how tangled relationships and psychological limits shape human personality.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages42

Reading Time1 h 5 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Kannada playwriting and the living stage

Karnad’s modern outlook and sources

The central identity problem

Head transposition and its consequences

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FAQs

What sources shaped Hayavadana’s plot according to the introduction?

The plot comes from Kathasaritsagara, retold by Thomas Mann in The Transposed Heads. Karnad adapts these layers into his own dramatic treatment of the story.

How does the head transposition affect Devadatta and Kapila?

After Padmini transposes their heads, Devadatta and Kapila experience confusion of identities. Over time, each gradually shifts toward his former self, but with key behavioral and emotional differences.

What does the play suggest about human identity and personality?

The introduction emphasizes the ambiguous nature of human personality in a world of tangled relationships. It shows that identity is psychologically shaped and cannot be fully liberated merely by swapping heads.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Aria